Fall 2019 Newsletter

Veterans Day highlights

Following the University’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, the Brown University Veterans Alumni Council (BUVAC) sponsored a luncheon and forum for community members. The event, introduced by BUVAC co-president Larry Eichler P’09, featured a conversation with Jeffrey F. Hines ’83 MD’86 — a former battalion surgeon and PLME student who is now a Corporation member and co-chair of the Brown Annual Fund — and the honorable Benjamin L. Cassidy ’75, a retired Marine Colonel, on the mutual benefits of engaging veterans in the fabric of the University.

More than 70 alumni, students, parents, and community members attended the event, which also welcomed President Christina H. Paxson and Congressman David N. Cicilline ’83.

New veterans initiative

During Brown’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, President Paxson announced plans to more than double the number of veterans enrolled as undergraduates by 2024. To achieve this goal, Brown will extend its need-blind admission policy to veterans, make standardized testing optional for veterans during the admission process, and increase financial support for veterans through a $25 million fundraising effort.

Interested in making a gift or learning more about supporting student veterans? Contact alumniveterans@brown.edu.

Keep up with veteran affairs on Brunonia

Visit Brunonia for more information on BUVAC and its alumni-student mentoring program, updates on the University’s new initiative to bring more veterans to College Hill, and much more.

Meet Marine Corps veteran Tiara Young ’23

After a life-changing NICU experience, new mom and aviation tech Tiara Young ’23 set her sights on a career in neonatology. Now she’s found her new path — and a supportive veteran network — at Brown.

How do you connect with the veteran community at Brown?

Young: “I work in the Office of Military-Affiliated Students (OMAS), so I’m there every afternoon. The space is used by veterans all day because most of us commute to school and it’s a convenient place to study or stop in between classes. The thing I miss the most about being in the Marine Corps is the community, but I feel like the veteran community here has really made up for that. There’s a humor and a way of understanding each other that we all share, and it’s been so nice to have that here.”

Read more on Brunonia.

Update, share, and learn more

•  Share your military service information. Alumni, please help us update our records by emailing alumniveterans@brown.edu with your branch, dates of service, and anything else you'd like to share. Thank you for your service!

•  Help expand the BUVAC mailing list. Do you know anyone interested in military-affiliated news and events at Brown? Please share this newsletter and encourage your classmates, peers, and networks to join the BUVAC mailing list by emailing alumniveterans@brown.edu.

•  Interested in finding out more about how Brown supports veteran and ROTC students? The Office of Military-Affiliated Students (OMAS) offers programs and services to help Brown students make successful transitions by connecting them with campus and community resources, facilitating learning opportunities, providing space for shared conversation, and more. Learn more about OMAS.

Save the date

Graduating Veterans Recognition, Commissioning, and Reception
Saturday, May 23
Honor veteran classmates, celebrate the success of graduating student veterans, and witness the commissioning of graduating ROTC students as they begin careers in the armed forces. More details to come in the spring!